Door check and closer.



J.,GRARD.

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.26, 1912.

Patented 0011.21, 1913.

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www osea J. GERARD.

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED 001.26, 1912.

i 1,076,205, rammed 001121, 1913.

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J. GERARD.

DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED 001226, 1912.

1,076,205, Patented 0111.211913,

mme.;

I l To all whom. t may concern:

JOHN GEBABI, F NEW BBITL, ONIECTICUT.

DOOR CHECK .LND CLOSER.

Specieation o! Letters intent.

Patented oet. 21,1913.

11111081011 ld Uetobet 1912. Ieri No. 727,811

Be it known that I, JOHN GERARD, a citizen of the United Stat, residing at New Britain, Hartford county, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Checks and Closers, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the art of combined door checks and closers and more particularly to a device of this character a plied as am hinge7 for a door. n auch devices, the body of the combined check and closer 1s loosely seated in or on the oor at the inner end of the door and is provided with a pivot to which 'the door is connected. Y Y

My present invention 1s designed to pro'- vide a structure of this character wherein the closer and check elements are very compactly arranged; wherein the closer element is accurately guided within the case; wherein the closing power is greatest when the door is closed and decreases progressively with the opening of the door; wherein the parts of the closer and check are easily accessible; and wherein the casing for said parts is solid except for removable ends which provide the openings for inserting and withdrawing the operating parts and which minimize the area for possible leakage'. These and various other features of i rovernent are'described in detail in the 'fol owing specification and are shown in the accompanying drawingsforming part thereof and illustrating a preferable embodiment of the invention. U

In these drawings, Figure I 1s a top' pian view of the assembled device, a portion of 4U the finish plate being broken awa Fig.

2 is' a view in front elevation of t e parts shown in Fig. 1'. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionthrough the casing and its contained parts. i Fig. 4 is a vertical section through Q said casing' andparts. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the casing, the ends thereof being removed together with the interior mechanism. rg. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6-6 o'f Fig. 4. Fig. 7

is a top plan view of one of the levers of the closer mechanism. Fig'. 8 is a front elevation of the lever' shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of the closer cam, pivot stud and check crank assembled. Fig. 16 is a: top pian viefvsr of the parts shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an end view of a crosshead and cylindrical ring cage. Fig. 12 is a front elevation o the parts shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary top lan view of the cylindrical end closure op the casi Re erring to the parts by numerals, 1 indicates generically the check and closer casing which is of substantially tubular `form and which is integral except for removable ends 2 and 3 screwing into the bod of the casing, the end 3 being provided with, a cylinder 4 extending therefrom to form the cylinder of a liquid checking mechanism to' be hereinafter described. The casing atq its base is formed with a seat 5 for the lower end of the pivot stud and with enlargements or swells 6 at op site sides.

In the top OFC the casing I provide a threaded bore 7 for the pivot stud and its bushing, and a second and adjacent thread` ed bore 8 for the pivot stud of the closer levers. The pivot stud which is inserted through the threaded bore 7 has upper andv lower rounded ends 9 and an intermediate squared portion 10. The lower end of this pivot stud is adapted to be tted within the seat 5 of the casing,'and the upper rounded' end is positioned wlthin the threaded bore7 of the casing. The extreme upper end of this pivot stud is flattened at opposite sides as at 11, and a door late 12 lits over the flattened upper end o the stu-d and is suitably secured to the under side of the door so that the pivot stud will turn with the swinging of the door. Fitting over the upper end l of the squared shank 11 is a sleeve 13 having 1 an offset bearing arm 14, while a second sleeve 15 ts over the lower end of the squared portion 11 and is provided with a second and alined offset bearing arm 16. These two sleeves are connected by means of a pin 18 secured to the two o ifset arms Hand 16 respectively. An anti-friction roller 17 is journaled on this pin and is positioned between the two bearing arms hereinbefore mentioned. The second and lower sleeve 15 has extending therefrom at a point opposite the bearing arm 16, a

crank arm 1'9 suitably apertured for the purpose hereinafter described. The pivot stud with its sleeves, arms and anti-friction roller is supported `within the casing by means of a bearing washer 20 seated over 'the lower end of the pivot stud and resting on the bottom of the) casing adjacent the seat 5, a ball race 21 being seated over this bearing washer, and a second bearing washer 22 being seated over the ball race and supporting the under face of the sleeve 15.

As before stated, the pivot stud is inserted into the interior of the casing through thev threaded bore 7 thereof. The diameter of the stud itself is less than the diameter of this bore, and I provide threaded bushings 23 which screw into the threaded bore 7 of the casing, and preferably also a packing ring 24 so that leakage at this point is prevented.

A piston 25 is seated in the cylinder 4 and is provided with a piston rod 26 connected thereto by the usual wrist-pin 27. The inner end of the piston rod is provided with a pin 28 which is removably7 seated in the aperture formed in the crank arm 19. The body of the piston 25 is provided with a ball check valve 29 of usual construction, this valve opening on the inward stroke of the piston and closing on the outward stroke. The cylinder 4 adjacent its outer end is provided with an outlet passage 30a and with a groove in its threaded portion forming a by-pass 30 communicating with the outlet 30EL and with the interior of the casing. This by-pass affords a restricted outlet opening for the oil or other fluid with which the casing is filled, and the size of this restricted aperture may be increased or diminished by means of a regulating screw 31 which eX- tends through the end of the casing and into the outlet 30a so that it may be moved in or out to partially cover, and thereby vary the size of the opening into the by-pass 30. The casing where the regulating screw 31 extends therein is provided with suitable packing glands similar to those used in connection with the pivot stud. The specific forms of these packing glands or bushings as well as the by-pass and regulating screw are old and may be modified at pleasure.

The cylinder 4, piston 25 with its rod 26 and regulating valve, comprise ,the liquid checking element of the device. Associated with this liquid check is an independent closer mechanism as follows: Mounted within the casing at the forward end thereof is a cylindrical spring cage 32 which is concentric with and partially incloses the cylinder 4. This cylindrical cage at its inner end is provided with a cross-head plate 33 detachably secured thereto and provided with guiding wings 34 at opposite sides, which wings extend out into the enlargements 6 of the casin A coiled spring 35 is mounted within this cylindrical cage 32, its forward end abutting against the forward end of the casing and its rear end against the inner rear end of the cylindrical cage, and the springl itself encircling the cylinder 4. By making the cylindrical cage concentric with the cylinder 4, I am enabled to provide a special space whereby a relatively long spring may be employed and yet afford a very compact structure. r

Coperating with the spring cage and with the anti-friction roller carried by the pivot stud, are complemental bell-crank levers 36 having their pivotal ends apertured. The forward arms 38 of each of these levers is bifurcated and provided with an anti-friction roller 39 journaled with the bifurcation, while the rear arms 40 of these levers are enlarged transversely at their ends to afford a contact surface of an area corresponding substantially with the anti-friction roller 17. The inner faces of each of the levers is formed on a curve as at 41 for the purpose hereinafter described. The pivotal ends 37 of each of the levers 36 are shoulderedl down so that they are of less thickness than the body of the lever. This is done in order that these ends of each lever may be overlapped at the pivotal point and bring the arms of the levers in the same plane. It will be understood, of course, that the two levers 36 are similar generally, but that their pivotal ends 37 are oppositely shouldered so that they may overlap as described, and that the enlargements at the ends of their forward arms40 are oppositely formed, in order that these levers may be complemental to each other and may cooperate in the manner described. These levers are pivotally interconnected at their ends 37 by means of a threaded pivot pin 42 entering the interior of the casing 1 through the threaded bore 8 therein, and having a tight threaded engagement withl said bore. The lower end of the pivot pin 42 is without threads and enters through the alined apertures in the overlapping-pivotal endsof the levers 36 so that these levers may journal thereon. In this connection it will be noted that the piston rod 26 extends beneath the lower of these two complemental levers and retains both levers on their pivot pin and prevents them from dropping therefrom. The anti-friction rollers 39 at the ends of the forward arms 38 of these levers rest against the wings 34 of the spring cage cross-head 33 while the rear ends of these' levers, when the door is closed, (see Fig. 3) rest against opposite sides of the anti-friction roller 17 carried by the pivot stud, this roller 17 acting as a cam to move the levers on their pivots.

The cylindrical spring cage 32, with its cross-head, is spaced from the interior walls of the casing and guided longitudinally therein by a plurality of ribs 44 extending inwardly from the walls of the casing 1, while the case is prevented from rotating by the wings 34 of the cross-head guiding in the enlargements 6 of the casing, and its forward movement limited by the-casing atv the the b'all valve 29 opening during this move- The liquid remaining in front of the piston is exerting its most powerful leverage novatos forward end of said enlargements. The top of the casing l, when it is seated in the floor, is covered by a finish plate/45 secured to the Casin by anyv suitable means, as by the screws s own in the drawing.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the operation of the door closer and checl` is as follows The casing l being filled with oil or 'other liquid, and assuming that the door is closed with the parts inthe 'position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the opening of the'd'oor in either direction from central closed position will, through door plate 12, turn the pivot stud with its attached parts. This movement of the pivot stud will bring the cam roller 17 aainst one o r the other enlarged ends 40 o the levers 36 and will swing said levers on their pivot pin 42 'and bring an anti-friction roller 39 against one of the wings 34 'of the cross-head, moving said cross-head and its attached spring cage forwardly to com ress the coiled 'spring 35. As the cam roller Il? turns during this movemeut, it will firstfenga the enlarged end cf theJ active arm 4c an' will then ride over the curved inner falce 4l of the active lever memberl 36. The leverage secured by this cjam roll-er against a lever member 3o is greatest 'when the parts are'in door closed position, and the force 'of the closer spring against the cam roller 17 ofthe pivot stud when the 4door is in this' position.

When the door is released, the 'compressed coiled spring 35 will force its cylindrical cage 32 and the wings 34 carried thereby against thel active anti-friction roller 39, forcingi'ts forward-arm 40 against the cam roller 17 and through its 'pivot stud, swinging the door to closed position. The leverage secured through thehlevcr member 36 against this cam roller 17 upon the return movement is greatest when the door reaches closed position so that a mavimum resistance to 'draft is ali'orded by the closer spring when the door is in closed ositi'on.

'Whenpthe door is opened and the coiled spring B5 compressed as described, the crank arm 19 carried b the collar 15 of the pivot stud, will move t e piston rod 26 and piston rearwardly or toward the pivotv stud,

ment and permittin the liquid within the casing to ilow free y through the piston. On the return movement of the door, the

piston rod 26 and piston 25 are moved for-7 wardly and the ball check valve 29 closes.

is then forced thereby through the outlet 30a and by-pass 30 to the exterior of the cylinder 4 in the manner as is usual., in door f' checks of this character.'

It will be noted that the Qperation tiene closer lever 36 is independent of the otherl and that by rea-son of the guiding meansi to 'tension said spring,

tensroned spring to return said lever inem--V provided for the spring cage and cross-head, the pressure, although applied at one side, com 'resse's the closer sprlng substantially funi ormlyi It will be also noted that `I have ivoted the lever members 36 on an axial line through the center of the casing' so that a greater leverage is secured than if these levers were 'pivotedat a point outside of the center l-ie. -This construction gives a maximum forward movement to the forward ends of the levers 38 engaging the crosshead `with aminimum movement radial thereto and insures greater compactness in construction.' This arrangement, as has been heretofore pointed out, also enables the closer spring to exert its maximum closing edect when the door is closed, and as the door is opened in either direction away from the center, the spring resistance becomes progressively less by reason of the decreasing leverage. v

By providing, in a device of this character, a easing in which the only openings for inserting the operating parts are at the front and rear ends, the top, sides and bot- .'tom being solid, I am enabled to largely reduce the area of possible leakage, and in addition have alforded means whereby access to' the interior of the casing may be conveniently had. t will be noted in this connection that the cylinder of the liquid checking device is carried by one of the removable end capsi l/Vhile I have described and illustrated a specific embodiment of my device, I desire it` understood that many structural changes' are possible `within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims. What Iv claim, therefore, and desire to secure b'y Letters Patent is:

1.' In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, a ivot stud rotatably mounted therein `an adapted for operative 'connection with a door to rotate with the opening and lclosing thereof, a checking mechanism embodying a cylinder mounted within said casingv and a piston within said cylinder operatively connected with said pivot stud to reciprocate with the movement thereof, and a spring closet` mech ani-sin independent of said checking mechanisin and embodying a spring mounted within said casing substantially concentric to andinclosing said checking cylinder, a slid iii-` head substantially concentric to said cyl 1n er and engaging said spring, and a lever member 'within said casing pivoted on the line of airis of said 'cylinder and sri'ng and engaging 'said head eccentricail o said axis and arranged to be operated by the rotation of said pivot stud to move said head and operated by the ber and studio 'normal position.

` v2. in a -devicelof the 'character described,

les

in combination, a casing, a pivot stud rotatably mounted therein and adapted for operative connection with a door to rotate with the opening and closing thereof, a checking mechanism embodying a cylinder mounted within said casing and a piston within said cylinder operatively connected with said pivot stud to reciprocate with the movement thereof, and a spring closer mechanism independent of said checkingmechanism and embodying a spring mounted within said casing substantially concentric to and inclosing said checking cylinder, a sliding head substantially concentric to said cylinder and engaging said spring, complemental lever members mounted within said casing and operated by the rotation of said pivot stud to move said sliding head to tension said spring, and operated by the tensioned spring to return said pivot stud and door to normal position, said lever members being independently operable in opposite directions of rotation of said pivot stud.

3. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a casing, a pivot stud rota-y tably mounted therein and adapted for operative connection with a door to rotate with the opening and closing thereof, a checking cylinder within said casing having a piston therein operatively connected with said pivot stud to reciprocate with the rotation thereof, a closer spring within said casing inclosing and substantially concentric to said checking cylinder, a cross-head abutment engaged by said spring and concentric to said checking cylinder, and a bell crank lever "pivotally mounted within said casing on an axial line through the center of said casing and in operative connection with said pivot stud and cross-head whereby rotation of said pivot stud with the opening of t-he door operates said lever to move said cross-head to tension its spring, said spring, when tensioned, being adapted to move said lever to return said pivot stud and door to normal position.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, a pivot stud rotatably mounted therein and adapted for operative connection with a door to rotate with the opening and closing thereof, a checking cylinder within said casing having a piston therein operatively connected with said pivot stud to reciprocate with the rotation thereof, a closer s ring within said casing inclosing and su stantially concentric to said checking cylinder, a cross-head abut-ment engaged by said spring and concentric to said checking cylinder, complemental bell crank levers concentrically pivoted on an axial line through the center of said casing and having their ends in operative connection respectively with said pivot stud and crosshead abutment whereby movement of the door, andconsequent rotation of the pivot stud, in either direction, Will actuate one of said bell crank levers independently of the other to move said cross-head abutment to tension its spring, and whereby said spring, when tensioned, is adapted to move said lever to return said pivot stud and door to normal position.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing, a pivot stud mounted therein and adapted for operative connection with a door to rotate With the opening and closing thereof, a checking cylinder within said casing provided with a piston therein operatively connected with said pivot stud to reciprocate with the r0- tation thereof, a closer spring within said casing, a sliding cylindrical holder within said casing inclosing and engaged by said spring and provided with an abutment, said holder and spring being concentric to and inclosing said checking cylinder, complemental bell crank levers pivotally mounted within said casing on an axial line through the center' of said casing and having their ends in operative connection respectively with said pivot stud and spring holder whereby movement of the door, and consequent rotation of the pivot stud, in either direction will actuate one of said bell crank levers independently of the other to move said spring holder to tension its spring, and whereby said spring, whenv tensioned, is adapted to move said lever to return said pivot stud and door to normal position.

(S. In a. device of the character described, in combination, a closed casing, a pivot stud mounted therein and adapted for operative connection with a door to rotate with the opening and closing thereof, a checking cylinder within said casing provided with a piston'operatively connected rotation thereof, a closer spring within said casing, a cross-head within said casing provided with a cylinder housing said spring, said cross-head and cylinder being movable longitudinally of said casing, guiding means wit-hin said casing engaging and guiding said cross-head and cylinder during said movement, and operative connections between said pivot stud and cross-head whereby said cross-head is moved by the rotation of said pivot stud to tension said closer spring, and whereby said spring, when tensioned, is adapted to actuate said connections to return 'said pivot stud to initial position. p

7. In a device of the character described, a casing comprising a hollow tubular body portion having an open end, a removable closure for said open end having a liquid checking cylinder rigid therewith and eX- tending from said end closure into the interior of the tubular body portion, a reciprocating piston within said body portion cooperating with said cylinder, said cylinder having a liquid by-pass formed therein adjacent is outer end.

8. In a device of the character described, a casing comprising a hollow tubular body portion having an open threaded end, a removable closure for said open end having a liquid checking cylinder rigid therewith, and of less diameter and extending from said end closure into the interior of the tubular body portion, said cylinder being exteriorly threaded to engage the threaded open end of said tubular body portion and having a liquid by-passrformed therein adjacent its outer end, and a reciprocating piston Within said body portion coperating with said cylinder.

9. In a device o the character described, in combination, a casing, a pivot stud rotatably mounted therein and adapted for operative connection with a door to rotate with the opening and closing thereof, a checking cylinder .within said casing having a. piston therein operatively connected with said pivot to reciprocate with the rotation thereof, a closerv spring within said casing inclcsing and substantially concentric to said checking cylinder, a reciprocating abutment head substantially concentric to said closer cylinder and engaged by said Spring, said head having a portion guided' longitudinally. by said casing, an actuating laver pivoted Within said casing in line with the axis of said spring and cylinder and in operative connection with said pivot stud, said lever engaging said abutment head eccentrically of said aXis and being operated by rotation of said pivot to move said abutment head to tension said spring andbeing operated by said tensioned spring to return said pivot stud to initial position.

JOHN GRARD. Witnesses:

JOHN A. PETERSON, WILLIAM Sco'rr. 

